Help - Pearl Gourami Behavior

Thank you for taking the effort and time to do that for me candiedragon - it's appreciated.

Your tank looks great and a nice collect of fish in there.

Apart from your tank being 80g and mine only being 50g, I'm not seeing a huge difference. Maybe it's the extra 30 gallon that is an additional 60% of space.

I'm hoping rather optimistically that the dither fish will help. I'll let you know.

 

I think the high temp might be part of the problem. It makes they are constantly in a state of matingbehaviour.

 

Thank you for taking the effort and time to do that for me candiedragon - it's appreciated.

Your tank looks great and a nice collect of fish in there.

Apart from your tank being 80g and mine only being 50g, I'm not seeing a huge difference. Maybe it's the extra 30 gallon that is an additional 60% of space.

I'm hoping rather optimistically that the dither fish will help. I'll let you know.

Thank you! With fish you just never know... but I think that's part of what makes it so interesting. You're always forced to learn something and budge out of your comfort zone at some point, and you gotta adapt fast to bring balance.

Despite having a little more space, it doesn't mean much with having active tank mates to share it with lol. I'm hoping it works out, you're already going out of your way with all of this. I admire it sincerely though. I look forward to the updates... hoping for good news.

 

I think the high temp might be part of the problem. It makes they are constantly in a state of matingbehaviour.

I think you may be onto something there DoubleDutch - although I'm really hoping you are wrong on this one

 

Another update:

The dominant Pearl was fierce as ever when I got home. The second Pearl is clearly all out of fight, no longer standing his ground and engaging, now running for cover.

The alpha was giving him little peace, hunting him out of his hiding places and harrying him.

At least with the second Pearl capitulating they are no longer having prolonged bouts of biting.

I introduced the Red Eyed Tetra who settled in very quickly and now look quite at home.




It's early days and maybe I'm seeing what I want to see, but it does seem as though the alpha Pearl has been somewhat distracted by the Tetra.

The second Pearl has been allowed to go into hiding without being hunted out too often.




Though if he dares to enter the middle water he is quickly reminded why he is in hiding by the alpha who is now lording over the tank.




I'm very happy the Tetra are settling in so well.

But it's too early to say whether the second Pearl can reclaim a place in this tank.

I'll keep a close eye on things.

 

Update:

As some may have read in one of my other threads the Alpha Pearl Gourami died around two weeks ago due to jumping out of the tank (I have since put a cover on the tank).

While I do think the second submissive Pearl could have survived medium term with the Alpha, he had a pretty miserable existence - either hiding or being chased and harassed.

Since the Alpha's death the second Gourami had blossomed and become the tank boss.

I'm just posting this as a final update to report that I now believe, from experience, that it is unlikely that two male Pearl Gourami can live happily together in a 50 gallon tank.

I was previously warned that this may be the case.

I confirm it was.

Hope this helps others with their future stocking.